People are so busy with their lives that they often forget about their oral health. What they don’t realize is that as simple as forgetting to brush their teeth or skipping their dental appointment is enough to put their overall health at risk. When you were younger you’ve been told to care for your teeth and gums. Despite this knowledge people deliberately neglect their oral health because they do not see it as a priority and perhaps the only time they scramble to their feet in panic or visit www.philly-dentist.com to book an appointment is when something terrible has already happened either to their teeth or gums or to both.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every four Americans suffers from untreated tooth decay. If you do the math, that’s around 2.5 million. Based on CDC’s statistics, 46% of the adult population with ages 30 years old and above manifests symptoms of gum disease while 9% of the American adult population is diagnosed with severe gum disease. Tooth loss and oral cancer are also common oral health problems people face daily.
You can avoid these problems if you practice preventive dental care.
What Is Preventive Dentistry All About?
Preventive dentistry is essential to keep your teeth and gums in tiptop shape for as long as you live. It’s not just about aesthetics or to ensure that your teeth are white and your gums are glistening pink, it’s more than that. When you have healthy teeth and gums it will positively impact your overall health. Preventive dentistry consists of practices and services that will help preserve your oral health.
Part of preventive dentistry is making sure you brush and floss your teeth daily following the proper techniques to ensure that your teeth are free of food particles. Forgetting to brush and floss your teeth will allow plaque to accumulate putting you at risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Aside from brushing and flossing you are also required to see your dentist for regular dental checkups at least once every six months. Your dentist can check if the brushing and flossing technique you are following is correct or not based on the condition of your teeth and gums. If you are doing it wrong your dentist can correct you. So just imagine if you don’t see your dentist and you’ve been doing it wrong all along? When you follow the wrong techniques, you can prematurely destroy your enamel and cause your gums to abnormally recede.
Also, your dentist can give you advice on how to care for your teeth at home. What type of toothbrush to use (soft-bristled), how long you should brush your teeth (two minutes) and how often you should do it (twice a day the least)? You’ll also be taught what type of food and beverages to avoid that will predispose you to develop cavities and tooth decay. With regular visits to your dentist, he or she will be able to detect problems early and this means early treatment. The earlier you are diagnosed and treated the lesser the chances of your condition to get worse.
Why Is Preventive Dentistry Important?
Basically, preventive dentistry lowers your susceptibility to gum disease, cavities, tooth decay and other dental health problems. It teaches you how to properly care for your teeth and gums; early detection of problems will save you thousands of dollars over treatments. Preventive dental care significantly reduces medical conditions related to your dental problems like cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes.
What you need to do is to see your dentist regularly and follow his or her instructions diligently. When you do these things, you can be confident that your oral health will be in excellent shape for the years to come.